Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
English Inter ESL
Spelling Bee 1st. Grade
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| accommodation | a place in which to live, work, stay, etc. | The cost, including flights, accommodation, and meals, was €100,000. |
| achievement | something very good and difficult that you have succeeded in doing: | An Olympic silver medal is a remarkable achievement for one so young. |
| acquisition | the process of getting something: | The acquisition of huge amounts of data has helped our research enormously. |
| advertisement | a picture, short film, song, etc. that tries to persuade people to buy a product or service: | I saw an advertisement for the new restaurant that opened in town. |
| affordable | not expensive: | nice clothes at affordable prices |
| aircraft | any vehicle, with or without an engine, that can fly, such as a plane or helicopter: | The airline is taking steps to ensure safety on its aircraft. |
| allegations | a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal: | Several of her patients have made allegations of professional misconduct about/against her. |
| allowance | money that you are given regularly, especially to pay for a particular thing | I couldn't have managed at college if I hadn't had an allowance from my parents. |
| ambitious | having a strong wish to be successful, powerful, or rich | He's very ambitious for his children (= he wants them to be successful). |
| ancestors | a person related to you who lived a long time ago | There were portraits of his ancestors on the walls of the room. |
| announcement | something that someone says officially, giving information about something | The president made an unexpected announcement this morning. |
| archaeological | involving or relating to archaeology | This is an area/site of archaeological interest |
| atmosphere | This is an area/site of archaeological interest | These factories are releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere. |
| attorney | a lawyer | he's an attorney who advises companies about mergers and takeovers |
| awareness | knowledge that something exists, or understanding of a situation or subject at the present time based on information or experience: | Public awareness of the problem will make politicians take it seriously. |
| awkward | difficult to use, do, or deal with | Some of the questions were rather awkward. |
| bargain | something on sale at a lower price than its true value | hey might have to wait until next year to get the best bargains. |
| basement | a part of a building consisting of rooms that are partly or completely below the level of the ground: | Our kitchenware department is in the basement. |
| bitterness | an unpleasantly sharp taste | He was full of bitterness after he lost his job. |
| bizarre | very strange and unusual | a bizarre situation |
| boundaries | real or imagined lines that marks the edge or limit of something | Residents are opposed to the prison being built within the city boundary. |
| bracelet | a piece of jewellery that is worn around the wrist or arm: | I took the bracelet back to the jewellers' because the catch was faulty. |
| breakthrough | an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem: | Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer. |
| bring up | to care for a child until they are an adult, often giving them particular beliefs: | She was brought up by her grandmother. |
| bungalow | a house that usually has only one storey (= level), sometimes with a smaller upper storey set in the | There were small, white bungalows dotted over the hillside. |
| cabbage | a large, round vegetable with large green, white, or purple leaves that can be eaten cooked or uncooked: | If you overcook the cabbage it'll turn to mush |
| canteen | a place in a factory, office, etc. where food and meals are sold and can be eaten, often at a lower than usual price: | usually have my lunch in the canteen on campus. |
| cautiously | in a careful and well-considered way that avoids risk | He moved slowly and cautiously along the dark rocky path. |
| ceiling | the inside surface of a room that you can see when you look above you | I got a crick in my neck from painting the ceiling. |
| challenging | difficult, in a way that tests your ability or determination | The year ahead will be challenging for us all. |
| chimney | a hollow structure that allows the smoke from a fire inside a building to escape to the air outside: | Factory chimneys belched dense white smoke into the sky. |
| cholesterol | a substance containing a lot of fat that is found in the body tissue and blood of all animals, thought to be part of the cause of heart disease if there is too much of it: | an oil that is high in polyunsaturates and low in cholesterol |
| comfortable | Comfortable furniture and clothes provide a pleasant feeling and do not give you any physical problems: | a comfortable bed/sofa |
| comprehensive | complete and including everything that is necessary | We offer you a comprehensive training in all aspects of the business. |
| contemporary | existing or happening now, and therefore seeming modern | Although the play was written hundreds of years ago, it still has a contemporary feel to it. |
| cruise | a journey on a large ship for pleasure, during which you visit several places | They're going on a cruise round the Med. |
| currency | the money that is used in a particular country at a particular time | Five people were indicted for making and selling counterfeit currency. |
| cyclist | someone who rides a bicycle | There’s a special lane for cyclists. |
| damage | to harm or spoil something | It was a scandal that damaged a lot of reputations. |
| dangerous | A dangerous person, animal, thing, or activity could harm you | His parents won't let him play ice hockey because they think it's too dangerous. |
| dependable | If someone or something is dependable, you can have confidence in him, her, or it: | I need someone dependable to take care of the children while I'm at work. |
| depth | the distance down either from the top of something to the bottom, or to a distance below the top surface of something | The river froze to a depth of over a metre. |
| depression | a mental illness in which a person is very unhappy and anxious (= worried and nervous) for long periods and often feels no interest in anything: | Tiredness, loss of appetite, and sleeping problems are all classic symptoms of depression. |
| diabetes | a disease in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood: | He had developed diabetes and high blood pressure. gestational/adult-onset/juvenile diabetes |
| dining room | a room in which meals are eaten | This room has a dual purpose, serving as both a study and a dining room. |
| entertain | to keep a group of people interested or enjoying themselves: | We hired a magician to entertain the children. |
| ecological | relating to ecology or the environment | The ecological consequences of a nuclear war are incalculable |
| effectiveness | the degree to which something is effective | They don't have information yet to evaluate the effectiveness of those programmes . |
| embarrassment | the feeling of being embarrassed, or something that makes you feel embarrassed: | My parents are an embarrassment to me! |
| engagement | an agreement to marry someone | They announced their engagement at the party on Saturday. |
| environmental | relating to the environment | People are becoming far more aware of environmental |
| exaggerated | seeming larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is | The slimming effect of wearing black has been greatly exaggerated. |
| equip | to provide a person or a place with objects that are necessary for a particular purpose: | It's going to cost $4 million to equip the hospital |
| famine | a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens | Another crop failure could result in widespread famine. |
| fellowship | a group of people in an organization with the same purpose | He enjoyed the fellowship of other actors in the company. |
| feminist | a person who believes in feminism, and tries to achieve change that helps women to get equal opportunities and treatment | All her life she was an ardent feminist. |
| flood | to cause to fill or become covered with water, especially in a way that causes problems: | Our washing machine broke down yesterday and flooded the kitchen. |
| foreigners | a person who comes from another country | It will soon be impossible for foreigners to enter the country. |
| fortunaltely | happening because of good luck | Fortunately, we had come prepared |
| furniture | things such as chairs, tables, beds, cupboards, etc. that are put into a house or other building to make it suitable and comfortable for living or working in | hey have a lot of antique furniture. |
| furthermore | in addition; more importantly | The house is beautiful. Furthermore, it's in a great location. |
| fuss | a show of anger, worry, or excitement that is unnecessary or greater than the situation deserves: | he made such a fuss when Richard spilled a drop of wine on her blouse! |
| gallery | a room or building that is used for showing works of art, sometimes so that they can be sold | It was hot so we checked our coats before going round the gallery. |
| generous | willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more than is usual or expected | it was very generous of them to take the time to help. |
| grassland | a large area of land covered with grass | Conservation groups are restoring grasslands in the Midwest. |
| guarantee | a promise that something will be done or will happen, especially a written promise by a company to repair or change a product that develops a fault within a particular period of time | The TV comes with a two-year guarantee. |
| guidebook | a book that gives information for visitors about a place, such as a city or country | We bought a guidebook for the New England area. |
| guided tour | a visit to a place or an area with a person who shows you the way and tells you about the place, especially someone whose job is to do this | Samira gave us a guided tour of the city. |
| gymnast | a person who is skilled in gymnastics, often someone who competes in gymnastic competitions: | There are already two civilian schools for remedial gymnast students. |
| hairdresser | a person who cuts people's hair and puts it into a style, usually working in a special shop, called a hairdresser's: | I've got a four o'clock appointment at the hairdresser's. |
| handicapped | having an illness, injury, or condition that makes it difficult to do some things that other people do. This word is now considered offensive by many people, who prefer to say someone has a disability or is disabled. | He had an accident and in consequence he is handicapped. |
| hazardous | of substances, materials, activities, or conditions) dangerous | Hazardous waste must be properly disposed of. |
| hedge | a line of bushes or small trees planted very close together, especially along the edge of a garden, field, or road: | She kicked the ball so powerfully that it flew over the hedge. |
| hiking | the activity of going for long walks in the countryside: | The hiking trail to the falls will be improved and new trails are being developed. |
| horrendous | extremely unpleasant or bad | Conditions in the refugee camps were horrendous. |
| hypothesis | an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved: | Several hypotheses for global warming have been suggested. |
| inappropriate | unsuitable | His casual behaviour was wholly inappropriate for such a formal occasion. |
| incredible | impossible, or very difficult, to believe: | The software blocks material that is unsuitable for children. |
| infection | a condition in which bacteria or viruses that cause disease have entered the body | Bandage the wound to reduce the risk of infection. |
| inflammatory | intended or likely to cause anger or hate | The men were using inflammatory language/making inflammatory remarks about the other team's supporte |
| injure | to hurt or cause physical harm to a person or animal | He claimed that working too hard was injuring his health. |
| innovative | using new methods or ideas: | She was an imaginative and innovative manager. |
| isolation | the condition of being alone, especially when this makes you feel unhappy: | After all the visitors had left, she experienced a feeling of complete isolation |
| journalist | a person who writes news stories or articles for a newspaper or magazine or broadcasts them on radio or television: | The journalist asked the minister how he viewed recent events. |
| juggler | a person who juggles objects in order to entertain people | Paulo, a juggler and street performer, entertains the visitors. |
| juicy | Juicy foods contain a lot of juice and are enjoyable to eat: | a nice juicy orange/steak |
| jungle | a tropical forest in which trees and plants grow very closely together: | The Yanomami people live in the South American jungle. |
| kindness | the quality of being kind: | I wanted to thank them for all their kindnesses. |
| knowledge | understanding of or information about a subject that you get by experience or study, either known by one person or by people generally: | He has a limited knowledge of French. |
| laughter | the act or sound of laughing | As we approached the hall we could hear the sound of laughter. |
| lawyer | someone whose job is to give advice to people about the law and speak for them in court: | want to see my lawyer before I say anything. |
| length | the measurement of something from end to end or along its longest side: | The length of the bay is approximately 200 miles. |
| librarian | someone who works in a library, is trained in the organization or running of libraries, or is in charge of a library: | The young librarian is great at finding titles children will like. |
| lizard | a small reptile that has a long body, four short legs, a long tail, and thick skin | These lizards are found in open landscapes with moderate or little vegetation, and are common in farms, stonepiles and ruins. |
| loyalty | Meaning of loyalty in English the quality of being loyal | Firms try to build loyalty by creating a brand name. |
| luggage | the bags, suitcases, etc. that contain your possessions and that you take with you when you are travelling: | Several kilos of crack were found in her luggage. |
| machinery | a group of large machines or the parts of a machine that make it work | a group of large machines or the parts of a machine that make it work |
| microwave | an electric oven that uses waves of energy to cook or heat food quickly | Put the fish in the microwave and it'll only take five minutes. |
| miracle | an unusual and mysterious event that is thought to have been caused by a god because it does not follow the usual laws of nature: | Jesus Christ was said to have performed miracles like turning water into wine. |
| molecules | the simplest unit of a chemical substance, usually a group of two or more atoms | All of these adhesion molecules have been proposed as vaccine targets. |
| mortgage | an agreement that allows you to borrow money from a bank or similar organization, especially in order to buy a house, or the amount of money itself: | They took out a £400,000 mortgage (= they borrowed £400,000) to buy the house. |
| mushrooms | a type of fungus (= any of various types of organisms that get their food from decaying material or other living things) that grows soft parts above the ground that produce spores (= reproductive cells) | For this recipe choose mushrooms with large caps (= top parts). |
| musician | someone who is skilled in playing music, usually as a job | She was a prodigious musician. |
| mysterious | strange, not known, or not understood | He died in mysterious circumstances, and there is still a possibility that it was murder. |
| neighbourhood | the area of a town that surrounds someone's home, or the people who live in this area: | There were lots of kids in my neighborhood when I was growing up. |
| nevertheless | despite what has just been said or referred to: | The two rivals were nevertheless united by the freemasonry of the acting profession. |
| nowadays | at the present time, in comparison to the past | Who remembers those movies nowadays? |
| occasionally | sometimes but not often | Occasionally I'll have a piece of chocolate, but it's very rare. |
| optimism | the quality of being full of hope and emphasizing the good parts of a situation, or a belief that something good will happen: | There was a note of optimism in his voice as he spoke about the company's future. |
| outbreak | a time when something suddenly begins, especially a disease or something else dangerous or unpleasant: | an outbreak of cholera/food poisoning/rioting/war |
| overwhelming | difficult to fight against | She felt an overwhelming urge/desire/need to tell someone about what had happened. |
| oxygen | a chemical element that is a gas with no smell or colour. Oxygen forms a large part of the air on earth, and is needed by animals and plants to live. | Air is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. |
| passport | an official document containing personal information and usually a photograph that allows a person to travel to foreign countries and to prove who they are: | Many refugees have arrived at the border without passports. |
| percentage | an amount of something, often expressed as a number out of 100 | What percentage of women return to work after having a baby? |
| performer | a person who entertains people by acting, singing, dancing, or playing music: | She's a wonderfully creative dancer but she doesn't have the technique of a truly great performer. |
| poisonous | very harmful and able to cause illness or death | Can you tell the difference between poisonous mushrooms and edible varieties? |
| prescribe | (of a doctor) to say what medical treatment someone should have | The drug is often prescribed for ulcers. |
| prescription | a piece of paper or an electronic document on which a doctor writes the details of the medicine or other treatment that someone needs: | The doctor wrote her a prescription for sedatives. |
| priceless | A priceless object has such a high value, especially because it is rare, that the price of it cannot be calculated: | A priceless collection of vases was destroyed. |
| primitive | relating to human society at a very early stage of development, with people living in a simple way without machines or a writing system: | Primitive races colonized these islands 2,000 years ago. |
| princess | an important female member of a royal family, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a king and queen, or the wife of a prince | Lady Diana Spencer became Princess Diana when she married Prince Charles |
| printable | If something that is said is not printable, it is too rude or offensive to be included in a newspaper or magazine | He let out a torrent of abuse, none of it printable in a respectable daily newspaper. |
| procedure | a set of actions that is the official or accepted way of doing something | The company has new procedures for dealing with complaints. |
| profitable | making or likely to make a profit | Over the years it has developed into a highly profitable business. |
| progressively | gradually | My eyesight has got progressively worse over the years. |
| proudly | in a proud way | He proudly held out his trophy for us to admire. |
| pull down | demolish, knock to the ground | I can't believe they've pulled my primary school down! |
| put up | to raise something, or to fix something in a raised position | Why don't you put up your hood/umbrella? |
| qualifications | an official record showing that you have finished a training course or have the necessary skills, etc. | You'll never get a good job if you don't have any qualifications. |
| randomly | in a way that happens, is done, or is chosen by chance rather than according to a plan: | The books were randomly arranged on the shelves. |
| reasonable | based on or using good judgment and therefore fair and practical | If you tell him what happened, I'm sure he'll understand - he's a reasonable man. |
| recruitment | the process of finding people to work for a company or become a new member of an organization | The recession has forced a lot of companies to cut down on graduate recruitment. |
| referee | in sports such as American football, association football, basketball, etc., a person who is in charge of making certain that the rules are followed: | The referee called a foul on the forward, and the other team was awarded two free throws. |
| regardless | despite; not being affected by something | The plan for a new office building went ahead regardless of local opposition |
| rehabilitation | the process of returning to a healthy or good way of life, or the process of helping someone to do this after they have been in prison, been very ill, | Many amputees in the early stages of their rehabilitation feel despair. |
| reliable | Someone or something that is reliable can be trusted or believed because he, she, or it works or behaves well in the way you expect: | Is your watch reliable? |
| rely on | to need a particular thing or the help and support of someone or something in order to continue, to work correctly, or to succeed: | I'm relying on the garage to fix the car by tomorrow. |
| responsible | o have control and authority over something or someone and the duty of taking care of it, him, or her | Paul is directly responsible for the efficient running of the office. |
| responsibility | something that it is your job or duty to deal with: | She takes her responsibilities as a nurse very seriously. |
| satisfaction | a pleasant feeling that you get when you receive something you wanted, or when you have done something you wanted to do: | She looked at the finished painting with satisfaction. |
| satisfy | to please someone by giving them what they want or need | They have 31 flavours of ice cream - enough to satisfy everyone! |
| schedule | a list of planned activities or things to be done showing the times or dates when they are intended to happen or be done: a production schedule | Everything went according to schedule (= as had been planned). |
| serious | Everything went according to schedule (= as had been planned). | severe in effect; bad |
| sightseer | a person who is visiting interesting places, especially on holiday: | Fairs, festivals, and sports events are held throughout the year and attract many sightseers . |
| simultaneously | in a way that is simultaneous (= happening or being done at exactly the same time): | Two children answered the teacher's question simultaneously. |
| sleeve | the part of a piece of clothing that covers some or all of the arm: | the sleeves are too long for me. |
| snowboarding | the activity or sport of moving over snow using a snowboard | Snowboarding is an extreme sport. |
| special offer | goods that are sold at a lower price than usual | You can still take advantage of the special offer of $355 for return flights. |
| stay up | to go to bed later than usual | I stayed up to watch the Olympics on television. |
| theater | a cinema | We are planning to go to the theater next weekend. Do you want to join us? |
| threatening | expressing a threat of something unpleasant or violent | She received several threatening phone calls after her appearance on television. |
| tremendous | very great in amount or level, or extremely good | They were making a tremendous amount of noise last night. |
| unconscious | in the state of not being awake and not aware of things around you, especially as the result of a head injury: | She was hit on the head by a stone and knocked unconscious. |
| unreliable | not able to be trusted or believed: | The bus service is unreliable. |
| weakness | the fact or state of not being strong or powerful | Any change of policy will be interpreted as a sign of weakness. |
| wristband | a piece of material that goes around the wrist, for example to hold a watch | My friend gave me a wristband that says "best friends." |
| work out | to exercise in order to improve the strength or appearance of your body: | Huw works out in the gym two or three times a week. |
| yell | to shout something or make a loud noise, usually when you are angry, in pain, or excited: | Our neighbours were yelling (obscenities) at each other this morning. |
| youth | the period of your life when you are young, or the state of being young: | I was a fairly good football player in my youth. |
| address | The place where a person lives or where a building is located. | Please write your home address on the form. |
| amphibian | An animal that can live both in water and on land. | A frog is an amphibian. |
| banishment | The act of forcing someone to leave a place, usually as a punishment. | The king ordered his banishment from the country. |
| behaviour | The way a person or animal acts. | Good behaviour is important in the classroom. |
| biodiversity | The variety of plants and animals in a place. | The rainforest has a lot of biodiversity. |
| camouflage | A way animals or objects hide by looking like their surroundings. | The insect uses camouflage to hide from predators. |
| communicate | To share information, ideas, or feelings with others. | We use language to communicate with people. |
| condensation | The process when gas turns into liquid, like water forming on a cold surface. | Condensation formed on the outside of the glass. |
| constellation | A group of stars that form a pattern in the sky. | We saw a beautiful constellation last night. |
| decrease | To become smaller or less. | The temperature will decrease at night. |
| jealous | Feeling unhappy because someone has something you want. | She felt jealous of her friend’s new phone. |
| judgement | An opinion or decision about something or someone. | The teacher made a fair judgement about the project. |
| kangaroo | A large animal from Australia that moves by jumping and carries its baby in a pouch. | The kangaroo jumped across the field. |
| mandatory | Something that must be done because it is a rule. | Wearing a uniform is mandatory at this school. |
| marvellous | Very good or wonderful. | We had a marvellous time at the party. |
| metamorphosis | A big change in the form of an animal or insect as it grows. | A butterfly goes through metamorphosis. |
| mechanism | A system of parts that work together in a machine or process. | The clock has a simple mechanism inside. |
| obvious | Easy to see or understand. | It was obvious that he was tired. |
| occupation | A person’s job or profession. | Her occupation is a doctor. |
| outstanding | Extremely good or excellent. | He did an outstanding job on his homework. |
| overcome | To successfully deal with a problem or difficulty. | She worked hard to overcome her fears. |
| photosynthesis | The process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food. | Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis. |
| practicality | The quality of being useful and suitable for real situations. | We chose this plan for its practicality. |
| pragmatic | Solving problems in a practical and realistic way. | She made a pragmatic decision to save money. |
| precision | The quality of being exact and accurate. | The scientist measured the results with precision. |
| predictable | Easy to know or guess what will happen. | The ending of the movie was predictable. |
| domain | An area of knowledge or activity. | Science is an important domain of study. |
| downstairs | On or to a lower floor of a building. | The kitchen is downstairs. |
| dramatize | To make a story or event more exciting or emotional. | The movie dramatizes a real event. |
| drought | A long period without rain. | The farmers suffered during the drought. |
| entrepreneur | A person who starts and manages a business. | She wants to become an entrepreneur. |
| fascinating | Very interesting and attractive. | The book was fascinating. |
| flourescent | Giving off bright light, often used in lamps. | The classroom has fluorescent lights. |
| genuine | Real and true, not fake. | His smile was genuine. |
| hemisphere | Half of the Earth. | Mexico is in the Northern Hemisphere. |
| hermitage | A small, quiet place where someone lives alone, often for religious reasons. | The monk lived in a hermitage. |
| hexagonal | Having six sides. | The tile has a hexagonal shape. |
| holistic | Considering the whole of something, not just parts. | The teacher uses a holistic approach to learning. |
| horrendous | Very bad or terrible. | The weather was horrendous during the storm. |
| immigration | The act of coming to live in a new country. | Immigration can change a country’s culture. |
| immortal | Living forever; never dying. | In the story, the hero becomes immortal. |
| imperative | Very important or necessary. | It is imperative to study for the exam. |
| improbable | Not likely to happen. | It is improbable that it will snow here. |
| increase | To become bigger or more. | The number of students will increase next year. |
| proofreading | Checking a text for mistakes before finishing it. | She spent time proofreading her essay. |
| quality | How good or bad something is. | This product is known for its high quality. |
| qualifier | A word or phrase that changes or limits the meaning of another word. | In the sentence, “very” is a qualifier. |
| queue | A line of people waiting for something. | We stood in a queue to buy tickets. If you'd like, I can turn all your vocabulary into games, quizzes, or classroom activities for your students. |
| resiliency | The ability to recover quickly from problems or difficulties. | Her resiliency helped her succeed after failure. |
| responsible | Having a duty to take care of something or someone. | He is responsible for cleaning his room. |
| sanguine | Positive and hopeful, even in difficult situations. | She stayed sanguine about her future. |
| stimulate | To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active. | The teacher uses games to stimulate learning. |
| strengthen | To make something stronger. | Exercise can strengthen your muscles. |
| temperature | A measure of how hot or cold something is. | The temperature is very high today. |
| umbrella | An object used to protect you from rain or sun. | I took an umbrella because it was raining. |
| umpire | A person who makes decisions in some sports. | The umpire made the final call in the game. |
| underground | Below the surface of the ground. | The train travels underground. |
| underwater | Below the surface of the water. | The diver explored underwater caves. |
| waffle | A type of food made from batter and cooked in a special pan with a pattern. | I ate a waffle for breakfast. |
| wound | An injury to the body, such as a cut or a hurt area. | He cleaned the wound on his arm. |
| yearly | Happening once every year. | We have a yearly school festival. |
Created by:
Teacher Lupita López